MOSCOW – It is with great sadness we announce the death of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend. Forest Harold Rollins Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Moscow on Jan. 24, 2024.

“Jay”, to all who knew him, was born April 30, 1958 to Forest and Leola (Atwood) Rollins. He grew up and lived all 65 of his years in Moscow. Jay graduated from Upper Kennebec Valley High School in 1976. The following year on Dec. 23, 1977, Jay married the love of his life, Holly McLaughlin. Together they built a beautiful life raising their three daughters.

Jay was a hard worker. Starting at a young age, he could be found helping his father in the woods, barn, or fields around the family home. He later worked for a few logging companies in the woods or driving trucks before he settled into buying his own dump trucks and equipment to plow and maintain the roads of Moscow in the winter for the last 34 years. Summers were spent hauling hot top for several local paving companies. His favorite years of hauling hot top were those spent with Holly by his side (or rather following behind), in her own Red Ford Dump Truck. Jay took great pride in his work and equipment. He loved his trucks to shine, recruiting his daughters to wash and wax them regularly and having the girls “Pledge” them nearly every evening in the summers.

Jay enjoyed stock car racing. Sundays, during race season, he could be found watching the races on TV. In many home movies and pictures of his daughters’ birthday parties, the races can be seen (and heard) on TV in the background; it was just part of life for the family. He was able to live out his love for racing at Unity Raceway for several years once in the early ’80s and a second time in the early 2000s. He was well known and liked by many over there.

Countless hours of Jay’s time were spent sharing his knowledge of trucks and equipment with those that wanted to learn, helping many to get their class A and B licenses. He was generous with his time and although his patience was short in some situations (think, equipment not running right or waiting for someone) if someone was willing to learn and work, he would do all he could to help them.

After so many years spent worrying about the weather and “his” roads, this basketball season he was able to truly enjoy going to and focusing on the games. This basketball season he could be found at the home games watching his youngest granddaughter play with his youngest daughter assistant coaching her, as well as his nephew, son-in-law and grandson coaching the boys’ varsity basketball teams. He was looking forward to watching the teams in the Tournaments next month and to see how far they would go.

Jay was predeceased by his parents, whom he loved deeply, Forest and Leola Rollins; his special brother-in-law, Carlton Staples; as well as many other family and friends too numerous to mention.

Jay loved to joke and tease; he loved to laugh and see others laugh and be happy. One of the many running jokes between him, Holly, and his Girls was that he was always waiting for his “women.” And so in true Jay fashion, he is once again “waitin’ on a woman” he will truly not rest until she is by his side once again.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Holly; and his three daughters, Olivia “Livy” Beane and her husband, Daron, Elizabeth “Ike” Demo and her husband, Rodney, Crystal “Tine” Rollins and her significant other, Ed Crossman; his beloved grandchildren, Dillon “Buck” Michael Beane and fiancé Samantha West, Victoria “Little Vicki” Forrest Beane, Aeris “AJ” Jay Demo, Kira “Nugget” Erin Demo and Myranda “Screech” Joy Beane; and his first great-grandchild who is expected in March, a boy, Waylon. Jay also leaves behind his sister, Nancy Staples and brother-in-law, Fred McClintick, sister, Pauline Lagasse and brother-in-law, Maynard Lagasse, sisters-in-law Carlene Rickards, Marilynn Smith and husband, Jeff, Melanie Cummings and husband, Mark, and Eunice McLaughlin. His family was large, there are many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends he has left behind. His presences, laughter, and teasing will be deeply missed by many.

Services will be Monday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Giberson Funeral Home in Bingham. There will be gathering after the service for those that would like to join the family and share memories of Jay at the Trinity Baptist Church in Moscow.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To leave a condolence for the family and to view the online obituary, please visit http://www.gibersonfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his name to the

Upper Kennebec Valley Girls’ Varsity

Basketball Team

P.O. Box 649

Bingham ME 04920

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